Novel composite coatings with interesting thermal properties were prepared by incorporation of phase change materials in electrodeposited metals. Such composite coatings combine a high thermal conductivity with a high heat absorption capacity and are potentially useful for heat sink applications where heat should be dissipated as fast as possible. Microencapsulation was used to make polymer particles with a core of phase change material which formed stable suspensions in the plating electrolyte and which incorporated well in copper deposits. It was found that under optimal processing conditions, copper coatings with 35 vol % of incorporated phase change material could be obtained. Such coatings have a heat absorption capacity of 10.9 J/g, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. (c) 2005 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.